{{infobox football tournament season | title = King Cup | year = 1978 | other_titles = | image = | image_size = | caption = | country = Saudi Arabia | dates = 30 March – 21 April 1978 | num_teams = 32 | winners = Al-Ahli <small>(8th title)</small> | second = Al-Riyadh | matches = 31 | goals = 121 | scoring_leader = Amin Dabo (7 goals) | award = | prev_season = 1977 | next_season = 1979 }}
The '''1978 King Cup''' was the 20th season of the knockout competition since its establishment in 1956. Al-Ahli were the defending champions and successfully defended the title, winning their second one in a row.<ref>{{cite web |title=جلالة الملك يشرف امس المبارة الختامية في كرة القدم على كاس جلالته |url=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/APR1978/22-04-1978-2129/2129-00101.jpg}}</ref> Al-Ahli beat Al-Riyadh who became the first First Division side to reach the final.
By winning both the 1977–78 Saudi Premier League and the 1978 King Cup, Al-Ahli became the first Saudi team to achieve the domestic double.
==Bracket== {{32TeamBracket | RD1 ='''Round of 32''' | RD2 ='''Round of 16''' | RD3 ='''Quarter-finals''' | RD4 ='''Semi-finals''' | RD5 ='''Final''' <!-- Round of 32--> |RD1-seed01=H|RD1-team01='''Al-Ahli'''|RD1-score01='''9''' |RD1-seed02=A|RD1-team02=Al-Jazeera|RD1-score02=0 |RD1-seed03=H|RD1-team03='''Al-Nassr'''|RD1-score03='''3''' |RD1-seed04=A|RD1-team04=Al-Shate'e|RD1-score04=0 |RD1-seed05=H|RD1-team05='''Al-Wehda'''|RD1-score05='''6''' |RD1-seed06=A|RD1-team06=Al-Kawkab|RD1-score06=0 |RD1-seed07=H|RD1-team07=Al-Rabe'e|RD1-score07=2 |RD1-seed08=A|RD1-team08='''Al-Hada'''|RD1-score08='''3''' |RD1-seed09=H|RD1-team09='''Al-Qadsiah'''|RD1-score09='''2''' |RD1-seed10=A|RD1-team10=Al-Shoulla|RD1-score10=0 |RD1-seed11=H|RD1-team11='''Al-Hilal'''|RD1-score11='''2''' |RD1-seed12=A|RD1-team12=Al-Arabi|RD1-score12=1 |RD1-seed13=H|RD1-team13='''Al-Ittihad'''|RD1-score13='''2''' |RD1-seed14=A|RD1-team14=Al-Jabalain|RD1-score14=0 |RD1-seed15=H|RD1-team15='''Ohod'''|RD1-score15='''7''' |RD1-seed16=A|RD1-team16=Al-Fayha|RD1-score16=0 |RD1-seed17=H|RD1-team17='''Al-Riyadh'''|RD1-score17='''3''' |RD1-seed18=A|RD1-team18=Al-Nakhil|RD1-score18=0 |RD1-seed19=H|RD1-team19='''Al-Ansar'''|RD1-score19='''4''' |RD1-seed20=A|RD1-team20=Damac|RD1-score20=0 |RD1-seed21=H|RD1-team21='''Al-Shabab''' {{aet}}|RD1-score21='''4''' |RD1-seed22=A|RD1-team22=Al-Khaleej|RD1-score22=1 |RD1-seed23=H|RD1-team23='''Hajer'''|RD1-score23='''2''' |RD1-seed24=A|RD1-team24=Al-Taawoun|RD1-score24=1 |RD1-seed25=H|RD1-team25='''Al-Nahda'''|RD1-score25='''4''' |RD1-seed26=A|RD1-team26=Al-Majd|RD1-score26=0 |RD1-seed27=H|RD1-team27='''Al-Tai'''|RD1-score27='''1''' |RD1-seed28=A|RD1-team28=Okaz|RD1-score28=0 |RD1-seed29=H|RD1-team29='''Al-Ettifaq'''|RD1-score29='''14''' |RD1-seed30=A|RD1-team30=Al-Tadamon|RD1-score30=1 |RD1-seed31=H|RD1-team31='''Al-Wadea'''|RD1-score31='''9''' |RD1-seed32=A|RD1-team32=Tuwaiq|RD1-score32=0
<!-- Round of 16 --> |RD2-seed01=H|RD2-team01='''Al-Ahli'''|RD2-score01='''1''' |RD2-seed02=A|RD2-team02=Al-Nassr|RD2-score02=0 |RD2-seed03=H|RD2-team03='''Al-Wehda'''|RD2-score03='''6''' |RD2-seed04=A|RD2-team04=Al-Hada|RD2-score04=0 |RD2-seed05=A|RD2-team05='''Al-Qadsiah'''|RD2-score05='''2''' |RD2-seed06=H|RD2-team06=Al-Hilal|RD2-score06=1 |RD2-seed07=H|RD2-team07='''Al-Ittihad'''|RD2-score07='''1''' |RD2-seed08=A|RD2-team08=Ohod|RD2-score08=0 |RD2-seed09=A|RD2-team09='''Al-Riyadh'''|RD2-score09='''3''' |RD2-seed10=H|RD2-team10=Al-Ansar|RD2-score10=2 |RD2-seed11=H|RD2-team11='''Al-Shabab'''|RD2-score11='''1''' |RD2-seed12=A|RD2-team12=Hajer|RD2-score12=0 |RD2-seed13=H|RD2-team13='''Al-Nahda''' (pen.)|RD2-score13='''2 (3)''' |RD2-seed14=A|RD2-team14=Al-Tai|RD2-score14=2 (2) |RD2-seed15=H|RD2-team15='''Al-Ettifaq'''|RD2-score15='''4''' |RD2-seed16=A|RD2-team16=Al-Wadea|RD2-score16=0
<!-- Quarter-Finals --> |RD3-seed01=H|RD3-team01='''Al-Ahli''' {{aet}}|RD3-score01='''3''' |RD3-seed02=A|RD3-team02=Al-Wehda|RD3-score02=0 |RD3-seed03=A|RD3-team03='''Al-Qadsiah'''|RD3-score03='''3''' |RD3-seed04=H|RD3-team04=Al-Ittihad|RD3-score04=1 |RD3-seed05=H|RD3-team05='''Al-Riyadh''' (pen.)|RD3-score05='''1 (4)''' |RD3-seed06=A|RD3-team06=Al-Shabab|RD3-score06=1 (1) |RD3-seed07=H|RD3-team07='''Al-Nahda'''|RD3-score07='''1''' |RD3-seed08=A|RD3-team08=Al-Ettifaq|RD3-score08=0
<!-- Semi-Finals --> |RD4-seed01=A|RD4-team01='''Al-Ahli'''|RD4-score01='''2''' |RD4-seed02=H|RD4-team02=Al-Qadsiah|RD4-score02=1 |RD4-seed03=A|RD4-team03='''Al-Riyadh'''|RD4-score03='''1''' |RD4-seed04=H|RD4-team04=Al-Nahda|RD4-score04=0
<!-- Final --> |RD5-seed01=–|RD5-team01='''Al-Ahli'''|RD5-score01='''1''' |RD5-seed02=–|RD5-team02=Al-Riyadh|RD5-score02=0 }}
'''Source:''' [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbMPMvgWAAEZhwo?format=jpg&name=small Bracket]
==Round of 32== The matches of the Round of 32 were held on 30 and 31 March 1978.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jazirah newspaper 31-03-1978 |url=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/MAR1978/31-03-1978-2107/2107-01201.jpg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jazirah newspaper 01-04-1978 |url=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/APR1978/01-04-1978-2108/2108-01401.jpg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jazirah newspaper 01-04-1978 (2) |url=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/APR1978/01-04-1978-2108/2108-01501.jpg}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Home team ! Score ! Away team |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Nassr | 3–0 | Al-Shate'e |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Ittihad | 2–0 | Al-Jabalain |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Tai | 1–0 | Okaz |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Hajer | 2–1 | Al-Taawoun |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Ohod | 7–0 | Al-Fayha |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Qadsiah | 2–0 | Al-Shoulla |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Ahli | 9–0 | Al-Jazeera |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Nahda | 4–0 | Al-Majd |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Riyadh | 3–0 | Al-Nakhil |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Wadea | 9–0 | Tuwaiq |- | Al-Rabe'e | 2–3 | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Hada |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Wehda | 6–0 | Al-Kawkab |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Ettifaq | 14–1 | Al-Tadamon |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Shabab | 4–1 {{aet}} | Al-Khaleej |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Hilal | 2–1 | Al-Arabi |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Ansar | 4–0 | Damac |}
==Round of 16== The Round of 16 matches were held on 5 and 6 April 1978.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jazirah newspaper 06-04-1978 |url=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/APR1978/06-04-1978-2113/2113-01501.jpg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jazirah newspaper 07-04-1978 |url=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/APR1978/07-04-1978-2114/2114-01201.jpg}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Home team ! Score ! Away team |- | Al-Hilal | 1–2 | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Qadsiah |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Ittihad | 1–0 | Ohod |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Ettifaq | 4–0 | Al-Wadea |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Wehda | 6–0 | Al-Hada |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Shabab | 1–0 | Hajer |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Nahda | 2–2 (3–2 pen.) | Al-Tai |- | Al-Ansar | 2–3 | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Riyadh |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Ahli | 1–0 | Al-Nassr |}
==Quarter-finals== The Quarter-final matches were held on 11 and 12 April 1978.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jazirah newspaper 12-04-1978 |url=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/APR1978/12-04-1978-2119/2119-01501.jpg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jazirah newspaper 13-04-1978 |url=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/APR1978/13-04-1978-2120/2120-01501.jpg}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Home team ! Score ! Away team |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Nahda | 1–0 | Al-Ettifaq |- | Al-Ittihad | 1–3 | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Qadsiah |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Ahli | 3–0 {{aet}} | Al-Wehda |- | bgcolor="ccffcc" |Al-Riyadh | 1–1 (4–1 pen.) | Al-Shabab |}
==Semi-finals== The four winners of the quarter-finals progressed to the semi-finals. The semi-finals were played on 16 April 1978. All times are local, AST (UTC+3).
{{football box |date=16 April 1978 |time=16:30 |team1=Al-Qadsiah |score=1–2 |team2=Al-Ahli |report=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/APR1978/17-04-1978-2124/2124-01501.jpg |goals1=A. Al-Sagheer {{goal|39}} |goals2=Eid {{goal|57}}<br />Dabo {{goal|89}} |stadium=Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam |location=Dammam |referee=Abdullah Al-Mawzan |stack=yes }}
{{football box |date=16 April 1978 |time=20:30 |team1=Al-Nahda |score=0–1 |team2=Al-Riyadh |report=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/APR1978/17-04-1978-2124/2124-01501.jpg |goals1= |goals2=Al-Joaithin {{goal|pen}} |stadium=Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam |location=Dammam |referee= |stack=yes }}
==Final== The final was played between Al-Ahli and Al-Riyadh in the Youth Welfare Stadium in Riyadh.<ref>{{cite web |title=النهائي |url=https://www.kooora.com/?c=17267&stage=5}}</ref> By reaching the final Al-Riyadh became the first First Division side to reach the final. This final was a repeat of the 1962 final which ended in a win for Al-Ahli.
{{football box | date = 21 April 1978 | time = 16:30 (UTC+3) | team1 = Al-Ahli | score = 1–0 | report = http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1978/APR1978/22-04-1978-2129/2129-01201.jpg | team2 = Al-Riyadh | goals1 = Khojali {{goal|27}} | goals2 = | stadium = Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz | attendance = | referee = Fahad Al-Dahmash | location = Riyadh }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{King Cup of Champions Seasons}}
1978 Saudi Arabia Cup